West Bromwich Albion travel away from home to face their local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship at the Molineux on Sunday afternoon.
The Baggies and the Old Gold are rivals in the same league for the first time since they were both in the Premier League in the 2020/21 campaign, before the former were relegated that term.
Wolves have not beaten West Brom in a league competition since a 3-1 win in the Premier League in 2011 and have not beaten them in the Championship since a 1-0 win in March 2007.
Now, the two sides face each other in a Championship game for the first time since the Baggies won 1-0 at the Molineux in April 2008 when they play on Sunday.
Latest Wolves and West Brom team news
James Morrison will be without one of his key players for the trip across the Midlands after Nolan Galves sustained a significant knee injury during the 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers.
The French defender is facing months on the sidelines and will not be available for selection on Sunday, joining Mikey Johnston, who is out with an ankle injury, as one of the players watching on from afar.
Wolves, meanwhile, will be without one of their best players. Raul Jimenez suffered a knee injury in the 1-0 loss to Everton in the League Cup and will be out of action for several weeks.
|
26/27 Championship |
Raul Jimenez |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
6 |
|
xG |
2.62 |
|
Goals |
3 |
|
Minutes |
117 |
|
Big chances created |
2 |
|
Assists |
1 |
|
Duel success rate |
57% |
The Mexico international’s absence will be a blow for the home side because he has enjoyed a strong start to the Championship season, with four goal contributions in six appearances.
Despite these significant absences, it will be a game between two good teams because they both have plenty of talent available to them across the pitch.
Wolves and West Brom have hit gold on two stars
As good as the likes of Galves, Jimenez, and Johnston are, none of them are the most valuable players at the Molineux or at the Hawthorns at the moment.
At Wolves, the most valuable player, per CIES, is 19-year-old forward Mateus Mane, who emerged as a first-team regular in the 2025/26 campaign.
The teenage star, who can represent Portugal or England at international level, scored three goals and provided one assist in the Premier League last season, operating on the wing or as a centre-forward.
At the time of writing, Mane is valued at up to £38.6m by CIES. That makes him the most valuable player in the Championship and, of course, within the Wolves squad.
The Old Gold youngster has not had the best start to the campaign in the Championship, as he has yet to score or assist a goal in six appearances, but he will be hoping to change that against the Baggies.
One of the players on the West Brom team, meanwhile, is also one of the most valuable players in the league and could cause damage at the other end of the pitch.
|
Most valuable Championship players (1 per club) |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Valuation |
|
Mateus Mane |
£38.6m |
|
Taty Castellanos |
£35.2m |
|
Mohamed Toure |
£23.1m |
|
Isaac Price |
£19.7m |
|
Justin Devenny |
£18.9m |
|
Will Lankshear |
£18.9m |
Isaac Price is currently valued at £19.7m by CIES, making him one of the most valuable players in the division and the most valuable player in Morrison’s first-team squad.
The Baggies have hit the jackpot with the former Standard Liege star because they only paid £2.5m to sign him from Belgium in January 2025, and he is now worth significantly more.
Just as Wolves have struck gold with Mane, who has emerged as an incredibly valuable academy graduate, West Brom have unearthed a potential fortune in Price, should they decide to cash in on him in the future.
Since the start of last season, the Northern Ireland international has racked up 13 goals and four assists in all competitions for the club, whilst creating nine ‘big chances’ for his teammates.
Price and Mane will be two of the attacking talents on display for neutrals to enjoy when West Brom and Wolves clash on Sunday, and both players will be hoping to be the difference-maker for their respective sides.
Hopefully, it will be an entertaining afternoon and the talented players on the pitch provide neutrals and fans of both teams with a good game of football.
